Hydraulic selector valve



-oct 22,1946. f QA, KEHL'E l 2,409,765

HYDRAULIC SELECTOR VALVE Filed May 4.11943 2 sheets-sheet 1 Wemag Oct.22, 1946. o. A. KEHLE i HYDRAULIC SELECTOR VALVE Filed May 4, 194s 2sheetsfsh'eet 2 31m/anhu i y Orr/mf? A A27/E @htm/maj Patented er. 22,i946 HYDRAULIC SELECTOR VALVE Ottmar A. Kehle, West Los Angeles, Calif.,assignor to Adel Precision Products Corp., a corporation of CaliforniaApplication May 4, 1943, Serial No. 485,6744

, 1' `'I'his invention relates to a hydraulic selector Valve forcontrolling a hydraulic cylinder or like means for operating aircraftcontrols and component mechanisms.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a control Valve such asabove described in which bores, ports and passages are constructed andarranged in a novel manner making possible the'use of a comparativelysmall, compact and light-weight valvebody as well as cartridge typevalve assemblies of such improved construction and arrangement as willpermit of ready and easy installation, removal inspection and partsreplacement operations vand make for a reliable performance of thecontrol valve.

" Another object is to provide a selector valve Aunit of the characterdescribed in which a simply constructed and highly eiicient valveoperating means, when released following an operation to unseat selectedvalve members of the unit, will permit the unseated valve members' toseat so as oreturn the operating means to a neutral posiion.

A `further object of my invention is to provide a selector valve of thecharacter described which includes four poppet Valves arranged in arectangular group in small compass in a small valve Vbody andintercommunicated by mean of straight ports and passages of short extentand so related to one another, the body and the valves as to make itpossible to use a simple and eflicient Valve operating'means likewise ofsmall compass andincluding a lever movable in opposite directions toopen and hold open selected pairs of the valves and which when releasedis returned to neutral position and allows the Valves to seat.

With the foregoing objects in View, together with such other objects andadvantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in theparts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of partshereinafter described andv claimed, and illustrated by way of example inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a valve embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlargedfffvertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is in part a side elevation looking from left to right in Figs. 1and 2, parts being shown in section; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of thevalve shown `in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectionalview taken on 'the line 5-5 of Fig. 2with the valve assemblies ,and valve operating means omitted for clarityoilV 1 Claim. (Cl. 137-144) illustration of the bores, ports andpassages in the valve body;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2with the valve assemblies and valve operating means omitted for clarityof illustration of the bores, ports and passages in the valve body;

Fig. 7 isa horizontal sectional View taken on the line 'l-l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic View of the valve embodying my invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings more specifically, it is seenthat oneembodiment of my invention includes a Valve body I ofsubstantially rectangular form. provided with bores extendinglongitudinally therethrough, there being a pair of pressure fluidreceiving bores 2 and 3 and a pair of bores 4 and 5 for passing fluid toand receiving fluid from a hydraulic cylinder, not shown. The pressurebores 2 and 3 are located adjacent diagonally opposite corners of thebody I while the cylinder bores 4 and 5 are located in the same relationto the other diagonally opposite corners of said body thereby providinga rectangular group of bores in which a pressure and a cylinder bore arealigned as a pair on one side of the longitudinal axis of the valve bodywhile the other bores are similarly disposed on the other side of saidaxis for convenience of selective operation and other purposes as willbe apparent hereinafter.

The body I is provided at one end thereof with a chamber 6 coextensivewith and common to said bores and adapted to contain valve operatingmeans which will be hereinafter described.

The pressure bore Zand the cylinder bore 5 aligned therewith in a planesubstantially parallel to the side surface 'I of the Valve body I areextended obliquely inwardly from the inclined upper surfaces 8 and 8a ofthe body. The other bores 4 and 3 are correspondingly disposed andtherefore converge with bores 2 and 5 so thatthe lower or inner ends ofthe bores are more closely grouped than at their upper or outer ends.This arrangement conserves space and bulk and makes possible adequatespacing of the outer ends of the bores for accommodating lineconnections, while the closely grouped lower ends opening into thechamber 6 make for the desired operation of valves in said bores with anovel mechanism of beveled or inclined surfaces 8 and 8a which slope inopposite direction from a center ridge 8b and extend substantially atright angles to the major axes of the bores, as shown in Fig. 2.Moreover, the particular arrangement of the bores as here providedsimplies the formation of a novel arrangement of ports and passageswhich constitute improvements in the art as will be hereinafterapparent.

As here provided the pressure bore 2 is provided with a connection tting2a at its outer or upper end affording the coupling-thereto of 'a iiuidpressure supply line such as the 2b shown in Fig. 8 whereby fluid from apump or other source of supply of pressure fluid (not shown) may bedelivered to the control valve. Owing to the fact that the outer end ofeach pair of bores (3 and 5 or 4 and 2) are farther spaced apart thantheir juxtaposed inner ends, a space circumjacent to the outer end ofeach bore is provided against which the enlarged part of the screwed infitting may abut. Y

Similar connection ttings 4a and 5a-are Aprovided ior the cylinderbores4 vand 5 whereby cylinder lines such asthe ones4b and 5b in Fig. "8for directing iiuid to and from a hydraulic cylindei' (not shown) areprovided.

The outer end of the other pressure `bore v3 is provided with a similarfitting 3a and is closed by means of a plug 3b screwed Yinto saidfitting. However, pressure fluid is delivered from the pressure bore 2to the pressure Vbore 3 by means of a short and straight pressure port3c extending horizontally in theupper or outer part of the body Ias'shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3 and in full lines in Fig. 5. y

As here provided the fittings 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a, are provided as theintegral outer ends of four cylindrical valve containing cartridges orcages 'generally designated IU and which extend into the bores A2, 3, 4,and 6 through the length of the latter. The 'inner or lower ends 'Il ofthe ca'ges lIll are constructed to act as closures for the correspondingends of the bores '2, 3, 4 and 5 and each of the ends I`I is providedwith aperipheral sealing ring Ha of circular cross section to vengagethe walls of said bores.

As shown 'in Figs. 2 and i3 in dotted lines and in Fig. 6 in'fulllines,the vbodyis provided with a short and straight return fluidpassage I2 extending horizontally between the two cylinder ports in aplane parallel to that of the pressure po-rt 3c and spaced from theinner ends ofthe bores about the same distanceasthe port'3c is spacedfrom the outer ends of the bores. An internally screw threaded outletport `I2a is `extended through the side surface il of thevbody I so asto intersect'the passage I2 andthe cylinder bore 5 vas best shownin Fig.6. This outlet .port aiords the connection of a return line such as theone I3 shown in Fig. 8, whereby'fluid is'relturned to the'reservoir (notshown) .of thehydraulic system with which myvalve .unitls as- -sociatedLocated at corresponding points .in the cages I6 in the .pressure bores2 and L3 .are valve-seats I4 and I5 for pressure valves I`6 .and II'I ofthe poppet type which .are .operated `to .open and lclose the bores 2and f3 at vpoints between .the closedvends II of the `cages and thepoints where the pressure port 3c opens into the .upper ends of saidbores.

Similarly disposed in 'the -cages I'in the cylinder bores 4 and?) arevalves"20 and'l o'f the poppet type arranged to open and close the bores4 and 5 at points between the connection tting 4a and 5a and the pointswhere the return passage I2 open into said bores.

Each of the cages l0 has a reduced portion between the valve seattherein and the connection fitting on the outer end thereof, also asecond reduced portion between the valve seat and the enlarged orclosure end II thereof. These reduced portions are provided with largeradial ports Ic and Id respectively which communicate the associatedbore with the interior of the cage. A portion Ille of each cagesurrounds the valve seat and has a sealing fit in its associated boreand is provided with a sealing ring Illf of circular cross section insealing contact with the wall of said 'associated bore.

Each of the valves here employed is identical and has a Vstern 23provided with an enlarged piston-like guide portion and closure member24 having a working fit in the lower end II of its associated cage.Packing rings 25 are provided on the guide portion 24 and togetherlwith'said portion will seal the lower or inner end ofthe bore through`cage and shut off communication between the associated bore in lthevalve body and the chamber 6. The lower endof each valve stem 23 isdisposed in the chamber 6 as shown in Fig. 2. By constructing eachmember V24 'as 'a 'part of the valve'stem'with which it is associated afewer number of separate parts are required than would otherwise 'benecessary.

A spring 26 is provided in each 'cage for seating each valve and has 'atension adjusting'nut '21 associated'therewith'as shown in Fig.'2. It isnow seen that the four valve assemblies are complete in their respectivecages which are subject to being readily screwed into and'unscrewed andremoved'from the bores 2, '3, 4 yand 5 .thereby facilitating assembly ofthe unit hereof as well as inspection and parts-replacement operations.

In accordance with my invention the'body `I is provided'withcommunicating or connecting passages23 and 29 which extend from thoseportions of the pressure lbores 2 and 3 which arebetween thesealing endsIl of the cages I0 and the pressure valve seats I4 and I5 obliquelyupwardlyand outwardly into those portions of the cylinder bores 4 and?)whichare'between the return valve seats I8 and 'I9 and the`connectionfnttings 4a and 5a. 'Looking at Fig. .2it isseen'thatsincebore 2 is opposite and on the right y.side of bore 4, .theconnecting passage 28 extends upwardly from bore 2 and is inclined tothele'ft, while passage 29 extends las .shown in dotted 'lines .upwardlyfrom bore3 andis inclined in the Aopposite direction .compared to,passage Y23, thereby making it possible to form these Ypassages with asimple .drilling operation.

.in the making thereof .andisexceptionally .com-

pact. As here shown this means includes an operating `lever 3D fulcrumedatene end .on a pin 3| seated in Iapertured ears 32 Yformed on a closureplate .33. 4This ,plateis secu-redby means .of iasten-ings34 .to the'end7of the .body at iwhich the chamber 6 opens and not only closes-saidchamber .but acts as -a mounting means .for-the valve unit inasmuch asit is provided .withbolt openings .35 in marginal portions which extendoutwardly'from the Valvelbodyas seen-in Figs. 1

Aand-2.

The plate 33 has a circular opening 35i therein through which the lever33 extends, it being noted that the ears 32 and the pin 3l are disposedin the chamber 6 and that said ears have curved outer faces 32a whichengage and conform to the circular side wall of the chamber E as shownin Fig. 7. Spaced somewhat outwardly from the fulcrum point of the lever33 is a substantially semi-spherical enlargement 3l the curved surfaceof which is outermost and projects through the opening 36 so as tocontact a flexible sealing annulus 33 held in a recess 39 in the wall ofsaid opening and operating to Seal said opening yet permit of freeoscillatory movement of the lever,

U-shaped valveV stem lifting members .46 and 4I are mounted on the lever30 on opposite sides of the fulcrum so that on movement f the lever tothe right the member d@ will simultaneously engage and lift stems 23for` the pressure valve IB and the return valve 2l in bores 2 and 5respectivelywhereas when the lever is moved to the left the member 4Iwill simultaneously engage the stems 23 for the pressure valve Il and toreturn valve 26 in the bores 3 and 4 respectively.

The lifting members 40 and 4I each have platelike bodies 42 which restin inclined planes on the upper edges of the enlargement 3l as shown inFig. 2, slightly spaced from the valve stem 2li when valves andoperating means therefor are in neutral position. The members d and 4Ihave side arms 43 as shown in FigsrB and 7, said arms being flattenedand overlapped where the pin passes through their alined apertures.

With reference to the diagrammatic view of the valve shown in Fig. 8, itis seen that the lever Sill is normally in a neutral perpendicularposition and all valve members are closed. When it is desired to operatethe cylinder (not shown) in o-ne direction the lever is swung to theright so that the valve lifting member 40 will be moved against thestems 23 of the pressure valve IB and return valve 2l in the bores 2 andE respectively, thereby simultaneously unseating the valves IB and 2l.

Pressure fluid now flows through bore 2 in which the valve I6 is open,passage V28, bore 4 above the valve 2l), then closed, thence throughcylinder line 4b to one end of the cylinder. Return fluid from the otherend of the cylinder passes through the other cylinder line 5b into thebore 5, past Valve 2l, then Opens into return passage I2, thence throughport I2a into the return line I3 of the hydraulic system.

The valves I6 and 2| will remain unseated as long as the operator holdsthe lever 30 in the position into which it is moved to unseat 'saidvalves but when the lever is released, the fluid pressure and thesprings for said valves will seat the valves and the stems 23 willoperate to return the lever to neutral position during the seatingmovementof the valves.

When it is desired to move the hydraulic cylinder piston (not shown) inthe opposite direction to that effected responsive to movement of lever3i) to the right, the lever is swung to the left so that the valvelifting member 4l will engage the stems 23 for the valves I'I and 2li inthe bores 3 and Il respectively whereby said valves will besimultaneously unseated, Pressure iluid now flows from bore 2 throughthe port 3c into the bore 3, thence past open valve I'I, through passage29, upper part of bore 5 and cylinder line 5o to the cylinder (notshown). Fluid is returned from the cylinder through the line 4b bore 4,past then open valve 2li to the return passage I2 and return port I2ainto the return line I 3.

When the lever 3d is released the valves Il and 2B will operate toreturn the lever to neutral position while being seated by fluid andspring pressure in the same manner as with the valves I6 and 2|hereinbefore described.

It Ishould be noted that the valves I5, I6, 25J and 2| are closed andthe lever 30 returned to neutral by fluid pressure more particularlythan by the springs 26, due to the pressure of the uid against thepiston-like ends 2li of the stems 23 of said valves. These piston-likeends in responding to lluid pressure so as to transmit this pressure tothe operating lever 3U, give to the operator a certain feel indicativeof the condition of the system, thereby affording a nicety of control.In other words, if there is no load on the hydraulic cylinder controlledby my valve unit, until the piston in the cylinder reaches the end ofits stroke, the pressure will build up and the force thereof will betransmitted to the operating lever 303v thereby indicating to theoperator that he should release the operating lever whereby the pressurefluid Will close the valves and return the handle to neutral.

The amount of flow through the valve unit hereof i's easity regulated.Tapping of the lever 3l! results in infinitesimal flow and smallmovement of lever causes a like small flow, while full movement of thelever effects a full llow of the fluid, there being a definite feeltransmitted as aforesaid to the operator, thereby affording a greaternicety of control.

While I have shown and described specillc embodiments of my invention Ido not limit myself to the exact details of construction 'set forth, andthe invention embraces such changes, modifications and equivalents ofthe parts and their formation and arrangement as come Within the purviewof the appended claim.

I claim:

In a structure of the kind described, a support, a valve operatinglever, a pivot connecting an end portion of said lever with said supportfor rocking movement in relation thereto, said end portion of said leverhaving a head which provides two oppositely projecting extensions, oneat each side of said pivot, a pair of flattened side arms at each sideof said pivot having aligned apertures through which said pivot passes,an elongated valve operating plate secured to edge portions of each ofsaid pairs of flattened arms, said valve operating plates beingpositioned at opposite sides of said pivot in a parallel spaced apartrelation to each other, and positioned to be supported by the aforesaidextensions of the lever head, a valve body mounted on the aforesaidsupport, and a plurality of valves mounted in said body, said valveshaving operating stems a plurality lof which are positioned for beingacted upon in an endwise manner by a face portion of each of said plateswhen said lever is rocked.

OTTMAR A. KEHLE.

